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Special Education and Elementary Education ,BAE

Special Education and Elementary Education, BAE

Academic programs / Undergraduate degrees / Special Education and Elementary Education

Disability, Education, Educator, Elementary Education, Exceptional Children, High School, Kindergarten, Learning Disabilities, Middle School, Special Ed, Special Education, Teach, Teacher, children, teachers college

ASU is no longer accepting new students to this program. Individuals interested in a degree in special education should apply to the Special Education, BAE or the Mild/Moderate Special Education certificate. Individuals interested in a degree in elementary education should apply to the Elementary Education, BAE or the Elementary Education certificate.


Prepare to educate and advocate for learners in grades K-12. Coursework paired with internships and residencies will allow you to obtain two teacher certifications after graduation and start a career in a high-demand specialty in education.

Program description

The BAE program in special education and elementary education prepares students to work with all learners in inclusive settings.

Since the general education classroom is a viable placement option for many students with mild and moderate learning and behavioral disabilities, students in this program learn to use evidence-based practices that promote success with general education content, including high leverage practices in literacy, math, sciences and social studies. They develop adaptive techniques for learners with disabilities and use instructional and assistive technologies to facilitate success in the general education curriculum.

Extensive professional experiences are built into this program to prepare students to enter the teaching profession after graduation. Graduates will complete internships prior to a full-time teaching residency. Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College has developed a distinctive approach to teacher-preparation, which includes student participation in internships and residencies while receiving guidance and support from faculty members and highly qualified certified teachers. Professional experiences are designed to prepare graduates to work with mutually supportive colleagues to address the academic and social-emotional needs of learners.

Graduates earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Mild/Moderate Disabilities Special Education, K-12, Elementary Education, K-8, and an endorsement in Structured English Immersion, preK-12, through the Arizona Department of Education. In order to teach in an Arizona public school, graduates must pass the appropriate professional knowledge or subject knowledge educator exams: National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments.

Format option: Transfer students who live in Arizona and outside of Maricopa County may be eligible to take regularly scheduled classes remotely via ASU Sync. Students can learn more on the college's website.

At a glance
  • Second language requirement: No
  • First required math course: MAT 142 - College Mathematics
    OR MAT 117 College Algebra
  • Math intensity: Generalprogram math intensity general

Required courses (Major Map)
Concurrent program options
Students pursuing concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”) earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Transfer options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.

Global opportunities
Global experience

Future educators must learn to create inclusive and inspiring learning environments, and they can do this by expanding their horizons through study abroad. They can explore how schooling works in countries that are leaders in education, conduct comparative research, and make a difference in a community by volunteering at schools and engaging in local educational programs through service-learning opportunities. Students may visit ASU's study abroad website to explore programs.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the program are eligible to teach in elementary education grades K-8 and K-12 for the following high-incidence disabilities:

  • emotional disorders
  • intellectual disabilities (mild or moderate)
  • other health impairments
  • orthopedic impairments
  • specific learning disabilities

They can teach in a variety of inclusive educational settings, including public, charter and private schools as well as nontraditional settings (juvenile system, children's hospital and more).

Professional licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

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